Begaljica ( ()) is a rural settlement in the Grocka municipality of eastern Belgrade, Serbia. It is one of 15 settlements of Grocka, situated in its centre, with a population of 8,233 according to the 2011 preliminary census. The village is located at the water source of the Begaljica river, a tributary of the Danube, thus in the southern half of Podunavlje, as well as in the fertile Šumadija region of central Serbia. Begaljica was first mentioned in 1528, seven years after the Ottoman conquest of Serbia, as having 5 families, and the Rajinovac monastery on the hill above the village. As the region was located on the Ottoman-Habsburg war frontier, villages were constantly destroyed and deserted. In fact, the village of Begaljica (literally "fleeing town") derived its name from these events. In 1804, a notable knez from the village, Stevan Andrejević Palalija, was executed alongside some 70 nobles by the janissaries. This event sparked the First Serbian Uprising. In 1902, an anthropogeographical study registered some 200 houses and 17 clans as living in Begaljica. The village is based on agriculture, namely fruits and viticulture, with 38,6% of the population being agrarian in 1991. Etymology The name Begaljica is derived from the Serbian word (), meaning "fleeing". According to locals, it is derived from the fact that the Ottomans constantly attacked and seized the village, forcing the population to flee. When the Ottomans left, villagers would return. This is how the village received its name. In Turkish sources Begaljica was known as Begaljevo, and the current form of the name may be a crossing with the name Bugarica, which the village also was known as in Ottoman times. Under Austrian administration (1718–1739) it was known as Bigaliza. Geography Begaljica is located in the central part of Grocka, in the geographical regions of Podunavlje (Danube river basin), and Šumadija (central Serbia). It lies 107–270 m above sea level, on the water source sides of the Begaljica river, a right tributary of the Danube. Begaljica lies on both sides of the asphalt road towards Grocka, some 5 km southwest from the seat at Grocka. The cadastral area () includes 3.171 hectares. Begaljica connects four physiographic "regions" – Nenadović, Brđani, Velemir and Manastir, and Cigan-mala. The Begaljica Hill (Begaljičko brdo) is located west of Begaljica, with one of the steepest sections of the Belgrade-Niš highway. 1903 The village is located at the water